Railroad-track construction



July 14, 1925. 1,545,721

G. c. WORTMAN RILROAD TRACK CONSTRUCTION 'ri'gina Filed Aug. 10, 192s s sheets-sheet 2 v wnto'c G. C. Worf/wais..

July 14, 1,925. 1,545,721

G. c. woR'rMAN RAILROAD TRACK CONSTRUCTION r'gina Filed Aug. 10. 1923 s sheets-sheet g .416 (45 I @gl /46 Patented July 14, 19.25.

UNITED-STATES PATENT Y Geenen-o. weerman, or emv-en, veterano# RAILROAD-Tinnen sommerferien, f

Appiiauon me@ .August 1e, 1.9213., seria; No. 656,709, Renewed. Maren leises.

To all w/wmz't may conce/m.:

v Be it vlmoivn that l, Geenen fon-minis?, a citizen of the United States,` residing at Denver, county of Denvenwand State,4 of Colorado, 4have invented certain new and useful linprovements v in Railroadi-Traelz ConstruCtion; and l` do deelare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, sneh `as Will enable othersslrilled in the art to. Whieh it appertains to-rnakeand nse the same, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form apart Of this speiiication.,` t Y i i This invention relates tov railroad. track Censtruction.,y l i It; is a 'Well reeognize'd fatt among people familiar lwith mili-ending that the' present track; construction is far frein perfect; In fac-t, it is so imperfect that the Wear and tear of the equipment is excessive and Qftee times disastrous wreeks are due to 'this cause. Amongthe niost apparent :faults in the present day railroad con-struetion Inay `loe mentioned the following:` Y

There no provision is made fer prevent ing the spikes 'from being Withdrawn, they soon loosen and are pulled outlto ,sucht` an extent that theheads are often from a quar- -ter of an inch to'two .inches above the flange `ot the rail and the spikes are often so loose that they een be Withdrawn by the flngels- In eases likethis, itis the praotiee to Withtlraw the s'pile plugv the hole with aWQOden Spike and; then redrive `the spike, .Whieh servesto improvelniatterjs for a time, but Wlh is not a permanent rexhnedy.n Owing to the elfes@ of. tempemtule changes and other contributing eauses, the rails oreepfl with the resultt that the joints are oftentimes f meyed @Way from the. posi` tions which they, intended to ooeupgy. Various anti-creeping devices have been in vented' and Some 0f them .ere used te e limited extent, but thetreeks are usually unprovided with any device for this purpose.

0n curves and turns the rails are subjected to a powerful force which tends to turn the outside rail over and :if this .Occurs a disastrous Wreck usually results.

the ends ef the rails by belts. Loek WVSllQ-IS are usually h 1 d proyided'between the web of t. we; en

illes are cionstentily beeomxig-leewth fliepose of levelil'ig' the track. It iSalsomy object to provide means to :positively revent the nuts from hecoming looseJ 'n V'to prevent the traekffroni ereepnges welll i as to brace the rails at the curves* Y l Other objlfl fgldlldvlntege @if Hl im# .proved Construction. than tlw S'Pe Cell-'y `ment ioned above, will heor'ne the-description proeeeds- Y My .invention is designed te improve the freek, oonstrttenyfor the purpose. Ofi leereasine' the veel* and betref the equipment and te rede@ te e minimum the great number of terrible Wrede, most 0f which are du@ te defects in the track Censtflicferi- 111 Order t0. better .and more Cle/elly de* Seville my nyeetien, I Shall lleyeriterelice t0, the acolilpenyleg drayyeee Whl'ell the preferred end 1.11 which: i i i Y Y Fig-A l. is. e Section taken `sm line, 11i-ffl,

Fie 3, and Shows my mpleydspike-,re-

taining and nut-locking platein place on a Standard jeirltcenstructm t Fie 2 is section 'when @eline `2.!--5t Fig. 3. is e .Side elevation of rail joint ,te which my spke-retanns allebei-leches plate has been applied. l f' i i Fig. 14 is a Plaid View et e @dread-@leek and Shows the relative positions of the ients and ties, bethjeilts beingshewn in, the Seme mslton with respect te the ties, jyfl-,rqllyI heyy- ;eyer, is unusual in rlweyenstructlee and,

shewn in this meneer merely fer illustrative. Pur-pews- Fs- 5 iS e Section .taken @eline 575e, Foie-.6, and Shows my mpreyecl .Spikereembodiments thereof are sl'ioyvn,

eepresmetely en line y Figi @and pound rail,

shows an end elevation of a combined spikeretainer and brace.

Fig. 8 is a perspective viewshowing my improved brace-plate and spike-retainer in place.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similarto that shown in Fig. 8,-but shows the brace feature omitted from the spike-retainer.

Fig 10 is a lag screw which must sometimes be employed where space will not permit the use of spikes. j

Fig." 11 is a top plan view of a conventional frog. d Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a frog and shows how'the nuts are held against turn lng.

Fig. 13 is a section takenfon line 13-13, Fig. 12. Y Numeral 1 Vrepresents a standard ninety such as -is almosty universally employed in the most modern railroads.

The rail has, of course,'the ordinary '.web 2,

flanges 3 ,and ball 4 which are indicated by numerals merely for the purpose of definiteness. Numeral 5. represents the ties upon which the rails are supported. f In Figs. 1, 2 .and 3I,have" illustrated a` joint construe` tion that is extensively employed. This construction shown in Fig. `1 comprises atie plate 6 which separates thebottom of the rail from the top of the tie. "Ihe tie plate has an upstanding transverse flange 7 against which the edge of the rail flange abuts in theinanner shown in Fig. 1. Angle bars 8 and 9 serve as fish kplates and as braces. These angle bars are similar but not identical, the Vdistinction being clearly shown in Figs. 1 and'2 where the portion indicated by'numeral 10 fits over thev fiange'7, whereas Vpart 11 of bar 9 projects downwardly and fits against theI edge of the 'flange 3. Boltsr12 pass through the web 2 y and through angle bars 8 and 9 holding .the

samev together. Spikes 13 pass through suitable holes in the tie` plate and haveenlarged heads which enga-gel the upper surface of'thefangle bars 8 and 9. The constructionv describedy is old and well known, but itis defectivein several particulars. There is no provision for preventing the spikes 13from pulling out of the tie, as almost invariably happens, and the only provision .for'preventing the nuts from loosening on 'the bolts isa springlock washer which I. have not shown, as itis not needed with my construction. I have provided an additional member which I shall'designate in' its entirety by nuineralv 14 whose function is to hold the spikes from being lwithdrawn Yfrom therties, to keep the nuts from turning, to bind the rails to the ties and" to preventthe rails from creeping. Plate `14 has a vertical portion 15 which has rectangula'r'lnotches 16 ,which 'engage the nuts and Y bolt heads 1n the manner shown and 'prevent spikes 13. My improved 'nut-locking i plates are constructed exactly the 'nuts from loosening. The vertical flange 15 is connected with a horizontal flange 17 by means of an inclined part 18 which fits closely against the upper surface ofthe inclined portion of the 1 angle bars 8 and 9-(Fig.2). In order to provide space for the heads'of spikes 13, cavities 19 are formed in the underside ofthe inclined parts 18. Spikes 2O pass through the flanges 17Vinto the ties 5 and hold the relnerthat very little strain,jif any, is'borne by the spike 2O; As'there' isa plate 14 on eachside of the rail andas these plates are duplicates, one ofthe downwardly bent portions 171 will beat each. end of the joint in the" manner shown' in Fig. v4, wherefore both ofthe ties are securely locked to the rails so that the spikes 13 cannot ypull out. nAs the notches 16' embrace 'the nuts and heads of the bolts, itis evident that the rails cannot Lcreep without moving the plates `14, but these cannot move without moving the ties as they are anchored 'to the ties by means of the `part. 171 and spikes 21.y It' will be apparent from the above description that the plates 14 ypositively prevent the.

spikes '13 vfrom being pulled out. They also prevent the 'nuts` from becoming loose and theyV revent the rails from cree infr. In

P l3 .s

vnot necessary and since they add unduly to` the cost of constructing the bars 14, v they may be omitted'wherever the eXtra cost is ya :consideration which overbalances vthe advantages thereof."

'In Figs. and 6 I have shown mylimproved spike retainer applied toanother standard 4railway'rail joint.v In this con- Vorder to lock the rail angle bars and retainllt) structionthe tie plate 6, 'shown in Fig. 1, has

been dispensed with. The angle plates 2 3 and 24 correspond to the angle plates 8 and 9 of .'Figs'l ,and 2, but differ from these in this,"tliat they have inwardly projecting flanges25 on ywhich the railflange 3 rests instead of on'the plate 6 in Fig. 1.' These angle plates are also provided with `flanges 26 which are perforated vfor the reception of spike-retaining and the sanney as rthose described in'connection y Otherswhichl .are somewhat dillent from the In Figs. 1 to 6 I have shown an arrangement that ,can be .applied .to existing` railrf'f-ad joints, and .in Figs-7 to 10.1 have shown .a joint that is; entirely different from thatv in connnon .use and which .can only be used iin new construction or where it is justifiable to incur the additional expens@ due to the reneval ef the 01d andthe ,Substitution 0f the new construction.

In Figs. 7.18 and 91 a construction that `can be used Vbetween 'the joints and which does not necessarily involve a new construction, but merely the addition of a spike-retainer on the straight portions and a combined spike-retainer and brace on the outside of the outside rail on a curve.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a section taken on line 7-7, Fig. 8 in which numeral 5 rep-resents the tie, 27 the tie platev and 13 the spikes that engage the rail flanges 3. For the purpose of holding the spikes from being withdrawn, I provide a plate 37 that is adapted to be spiked to the top of the tie by means of spike 38. Plate 37 has an extension 39 that is Vbent at right angles thereto and is spiked to the side of the tie by means of spikes 40 or by lag screws 41 (Fig. 10). EX- tcnding to the side of plate 37 is a part 42 which rests upon the upper surface of the flange 3. The part 42 has an` upwardly curved portion 43 that covers the heads of the spikes 13 in the manner shown in Fig. 7. A tongue 44 is cut out oi' the part 42 and is driven under the tie plate between it and the tie and serves to hold the spike-retaining plate securely in place. Where my improved tie plate can be used, the tongue 44 will be slid into the recess 36, but where an ordinary plate is employed that is not provided with a recess, the tongue 44 will have to be embedded in t-he tie as shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the spike-retaining plate provided with a brace portion 42A which extends upwardly and engages the angle between the ball of the rail and the web 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 11. The arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is designed for bracing the rail at curves and is applied to the outside of the outside rail of the curve, as this is the only Vrail that is exposed to strains tending to turn it over.

It is the universal experience among` railroads that the bolts which are employed in holding the rails of the frogs together break or have the threads stripped, dueto the severe strains to which the frogs are sub- ]ected. The bolts are usually provided Vwith' powerful spring lock washers and the nuts are turned very tightly, which puts the bolts and threads under a severe strain.

When a. t-rain passes over the frog at a highl speed the additional strain either breaks the boltor strips the threads. I have found that if thelockiwasheris omitted and the nuts tightened *moderately and then held .from

Viloosenin g by some 'meaiissimilar to that `slioxv'ngin Figsl 'to i6, t'hat'th'e breakage of theboltsV and" the stripping of the threads 'in Fig. '121 have shown a side elevati-Qn 'of l a frog lookingr in the die'c'tionfol arrow 20,

n; but sf asimilar nog. ressens-aramid to the tie inthe usual way by means ol spikes 13 and these are retained in place by a plate 46 which has a `portion 47 which extends over theheads of the spikes and which terminates in a vertical flange 48which is provided with Vnotches 49 which embrace the nuts on the ends of the bolts 45 and prevent them from turning.v The end of plate 46 is bent downwardly as indicated at 146 and is provided with several openings for the reception of spikes 50. It is evident that with my improved plate 46 in place, the spikes 13 will be held against withdrawal and that the nuts will not loosen.

From the above, it will be apparent that y I have invented a railway track construction that will positively prevent the spikes from being pulled out of the ties, which will lock the nuts aga-inst turning, which will prevent creeping7 of the rails, and which will tie the ties and rails together.

On straight stretches of road my improvedspike retainer, shown in Fig. 9, will positively prevent the spikes from being loosened or withdrawn and will hold the tie against the rail so that it may be readily tamped. Where the track is curved and therefore subjected to strain that tends to overturn the rail, my spike-retaining plate is made in the form of a brace as shown in Fig. 8. p

In every case it will be noted that the retaining 1plate has a pprtion bent downwardly and spiked to the side of the tie so that there can be nok upward movement of the plate without shearing the spikes or screwsthat pass into thev side of the tie. The plates are also provided in common with means to hold the spikes in place and the plates shown in Figs. 1, 2, .3, 5, 6, 11 and 12 are also provided with means for holding the nuts against rotation.

Having now described what I claim as new is: y

1. In a railroad track having ties, aligned rails resting on the ties, means for connecting the ends of adjacent rails, said means comprising fish plates, bolts for holding the' lish plates to the rail, nuts on said bolts and spikesfor holding the railsto the ties, means for holding the spikes against withdrawal comprising a plate adaptealA to be fastened .my invention,

fIllig. 1. Fig. 12 is `not an elevation ofig ilo to theV upper surface of the tie, said plate having an vextension yadapted to eX- tend over the yupper ends ofA the rail-holding spikes', a flange extending upwardly and providedwith notches Jfor embracingthe t nuts -for tliepur'poseo preventing Arotation thereof, said plate also havinga portion bent` at right angles thereto and adapted to engage the side ofthe tie, said last named portion having openings for the reception of fastening Ineans.k

2. A spike retaining and Anut-locking means comprising a plate having a portion thereof flat and adapted to rest upona flat surface., a vertical flange having notches, an inclined portion connecting said Hat portion and said vertical flange,l said inclined 'portion having its loWer Asurface provided With In testimony Whereoffl affix tiny signa-'IV ture. y l l Y' l p `GEORGE VVORTMAN, 

